Danes are dancing

UAlbany wins title for first NCAA Tournament berth

Updated 12:00 am, Sunday, March 11, 2012

UAlbany women celebrate after beating UMBC for the championship of the America East at the SEFCU Arena in Albany Saturday March 10, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

UAlbany women celebrate after beating UMBC for the championship of the America East at the SEFCU Arena in Albany Saturday March 10, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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UAlbany fans cheer as their team beats UMBC women for the championship of the America East at the SEFCU Arena in Albany Saturday March 10, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

UAlbany fans cheer as their team beats UMBC women for the championship of the America East at the SEFCU Arena in Albany Saturday March 10, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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UAlbany's #5 Ebone Henry, at right, forces past UMBC defenders during the championship game of the America East at the SEFCU Arena in Albany Saturday March 10, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

UAlbany's #5 Ebone Henry, at right, forces past UMBC defenders during the championship game of the America East at the SEFCU Arena in Albany Saturday March 10, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

Danes are dancing

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ALBANY — The best player on the floor for the University at Albany Saturday night didn't know what to say or what to do. She would, however, admit that one of the first things she did when the madness settled on SEFCU Arena was cry.

The tears were those from jubilation. After years of frustration and being a punching bag at America East destinations from Vermont to Baltimore, the Great Danes are finally the champions. So, yes, Henry could be excused if she wanted a little bit of a moment.

The Danes captured their first America East championship in front of 2,408 at SEFCU Arena by beating Maryland-Baltimore County 69-61 in the America East championship game.

This has been a season of history for the Danes, who have now won 10 straight games and are adding to their school record for wins. The count is 23-9 now, and the big prize awaits. By beating the Retrievers, the Danes have qualified for their first trip to the Division I NCAA Tournament.

The Danes will find out Monday night at 7 who they play and when and where they play in the NCAAs. And, as the players danced and cried and smiled and laughed at center court Saturday night, they could care less who the opponent is and where the destination is.

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When the final buzzer went off and the win was secured, most of the Danes players scattered to celebrate. Freshman Megan Craig, who came off the bench and scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds in 13 minutes, hugged anyone she could find.

"I've never experienced anything like this before," the 6-foot-8 Craig said. "This is just amazing. My heart is really racing right now."

Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who brought the Danes program to respectability in her first season last year, made sure to grab the SEFCU public address microphone when the game was over. She wanted to thank the crowd for coming out and supporting her team at the time they needed it most.

"Everyone was just so determined," Abrahamson-Henderson said. "I think, right now, they are all still in shock."

"The crowd was amazing," Callaway said. "I remember days when I was a freshman when there were only a few hundred people here."

The Danes came into the America East Tournament as the second seed. UMBC (17-15) was the fifth seed, but had been selected as the preseason pick to finish first in the nine-team league.

Henry was named the Most Valuable Player of the America East Tournament, joining teammates Forster and Callaway on the All-Tournament team. UMBC's Michelle Kurowski and Erin Brown were also named to the team.

Tope Obajolu led UMBC with 16 points, Kristen Coles had 12 and Kurowski and Brown had 10 points each.

This game was close throughout, although the Danes never trailed after taking a 24-22 lead with 3:49 left in the first half.

In the second half, the Danes looked on several occasions as if they were going to blow open the game, but the Retrievers always came back. Leading 55-53, the Danes got some breathing room.

Craig made two free throws with 4:19 left, and then Callaway scored to give UAlbany a 59-53 lead with 3:40 left. UMBC never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

When the final buzzer went off, the boisterous crowd roared with approval and, of course the Danes players began celebrating with whatever teammate they could find.

"I didn't know what to think," said Forster, who had four points and 13 rebounds. "It was like, 'We finally did it!' You see people running around on TV all the time after games. It was just crazy."

The UAlbany defense swarmed around the Retrievers all game, forcing them into 16 turnovers.

"Albany did a great job, they did what they had to do," said UMBC coach Phil Stern. "You have to congratulate them."